Safe-pac credit card envelope

ABSTRACT

An envelope is produced from an envelope blank for safely mailing credit cards in a self-contained, slotted pocket. The envelope blank has side flaps or extended seams on opposing ends of the rectangular face panel of the envelope blank with at least one of the side flaps or extended seams having a slot therein.

United States Patent Schroeder 1 1 Oct. 1, 1974 1 1 SAFE-PAC CREDIT CARD ENVELOPE 3,399,823 9/1968 1 1111501. 229/72 [76] In entor: Peter Wayne Schroeder, 4034 3,540,646 ll/l970 Kizler 229/72 Bluebonnet Houston 77025 Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe [2]] App]. No; 323,522 Attorney, Agent, or FirmKurt S. Myers 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 229/72, 229/71 1 151 Int. Cl B65d 27/04, 865d 27/08 qp 1S prqduced p an envelope blank for 58 Field 01 Search 229/70, 71, 72, 74 Safely mallmg Cred cards In a e Slotted pocket. The envelope blank has side flaps or extended [56] References Cited seams on opposing ends of the rectangular face panel UNITED STATES PATENTS of the envelope blank w1th at least one of the s1de 1 741 059 12 1929 Jones 229/71 flaps or extended seams having a Slot therem' 1,977,042 10/1934 Cather 229/71 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFE-PAC CREDIT CARD ENVELOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to an envelope blank which forms an envelope for safely packing credit cards for mail delivery. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an envelope blank having side flaps or extended seams on opposing ends of the rectangular face panel of the envelope blank with at least one of the side flaps or extended seams having a slot therein. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the envelope blank has slots in both of the side flaps or extended seams and are of a size to accommodate a credit card.

2. Prior Art US Pat. No. 3,35l,268, U.S. Pat. No. 1,984,901,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an envelope formed from an envelope blank having a rectangular face and side flaps or extended seams on opposing ends of the rectangular face panel wherein at least one of the side flaps or extended seams has a slot therein. The slot is of a size for inserting an object such as a credit card so that it will be safely packaged within the envelope and securely contained therein. The construction of the envelope blank of the present invention produces an envelope which enables the insertion of an object such as a credit card to be easily inserted into the envelope so as not to move about, yet in a manner where it is not exposed to a glued seam. In envelopes of the prior art, the envelope may tear open or be subject to easily being opened along a glued seam whereby theft or loss of the credit card or other object may occur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope blank of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the envelope blank of the present invention wherein the side flaps or extended seams are folded along the scores;

FIG. 3 is a back view of an envelope blank of the present invention shown in its folded and glued position; and,

FIG. 4 is a cut away view of an envelope blank according to the present invention showing a credit card or like object inserted in the slotted pocket formed by the slot in the extended seam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, particularly to FIG. I, an envelope blank of the present invention is shown. The envelope blank 10 comprises a rectangular face panel 11 bounded by the score line l2, l3, l4 and 15, respectively. Extending from opposing ends of the rectangular face 11 are side flaps or seams l6 and 17 respectively. In the preferred embodiment, both side flaps or seams l6 and 17 are extended, meaning that they are of a longer length than in a normal business envelope and at least one of the side flaps or extended seams 16 or 17 has a slot therein. As shown in a preferred embodiment, slot 18 is in the side flap or extended seam l6 and slot 19 is in the extended seam 17. The slots 18 and l9side flaps or extend within the upper half of extended seams l6 and 17, respectively, and over /2 of the distance that the extended seam 16 or I7, respectively, extends from the rectangular face 11. The envelope blank 10 is further made up of a back 20 and a flap 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side flaps or seams l6 and 17 are folded on the score lines 12 and 14, respectively, and folded towards the face 11. Glue is applied on either side of the slots 18 and 19. For example, glue or adhesive may be applied along lines 22 and 23 on side flap or seam 16 on either side of the slot 18 and along lines 24 and 25 on side flaps or seams 17 on either side of slot 19. The glue may be applied on either side of the slot at a point or as illustrated, along a line extending the height of the seams for improved strength.

The back is folded along score line 15 and glued to the side flaps or extended seams on either side of the slot 18 and 19, respectively. Furthermore, the dimensions of the back panel 20 are such that when the back panel 20 is glued to the side flaps or extended seams l6 and 17, respectively, the back 20 covers the slots 18 and 19, respectively. However, the: back 20 when glued to the side flaps or extended seams l6 and 17 preferably has a height which is less than the height of the side flaps or seams. The envelope blank in the folded and glued position is illustrated in FIG. 3 ready for insertion of the material to be placed in the envelope. An object such as a credit card or cards may then be placed in each of the slotted pockets formed by the side flaps or extended seams 16 and 17, respectively, having slots 18 and 19 therein. After the object is safely packed in the envelope and the advertising, letters or other material accompanying the object or credit card is inserted into the envelope, the envelope may be closed by folding on score 13 and closing with the adhesive or glue 26 present on the flap 21.

The insertion of the object such as a credit card 27 or 28 into an envelope made from an envelope blank according to the present invention. is described further with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. With the envelope in the position shown in FIG. 3, the object such as a credit card is inserted between the side flap or extended seam 16 or 17 and the back panel 20 until it reaches the slot 18 or 19, respectively. At that point, the credit cards 27 and .28 enter the envelope large pocket as shown in FIG. 4 as they pass through the slot 18 or 19, respectively. It is therefore clear that in the event that the glue line 22 or 25 was to come unglued either during transit or by a person handling the envelope that the credit cards 27 or 28 cannot be removed or stolen from the envelope withoutcompletely destroying the envelope.

The envelope blank of the present invention may have various optional features. For example, the face panel 11 may contain a window 29 having a cellophane or plastic covering material 30 for the address to be placed on the advertising or letter inserted into the envelope. The blank may be letter size, business size or a special size. Further, the flap 21 may have a shape similar to the back shown in the drawings to provide additional advertising space. However, the envelope blanks of the present invention all have a slots in at least one of the side flaps or extended seams to provide a safepac for the credit card or other object inserted into the envelope. This is in contrast to a pocket formed simply between the side flap or extended seam and back panel or requiring an additional piece of paper glued to the envelope blank to provide the pocket for the object.

In a specific example of the present invention, the envelope blank is designed to make an envelope for two credit cards and the insertion of advertising material. The envelope blank has two side flaps or extended seams having slots about 1 /2 inches extending within the upper half of each side flap or seam and having a height of approximately 7/16 inch (to accommodate the credit cards since most credit cards have dimensions approximately 3 1/6 inches X 2 4; inches). The face dimensions are about 8 inches X 3 11/16 inches with the side flaps or seams extending for about 3 /2 inches to 3 /3 inches.

The nature and object of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated and the best mode thereof contemplated set forth, what I wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent 1. An envelope blank which comprises a rectangular face having two side edges a top edge,

and a bottom edge;

side flaps on said side edges of said rectangular face,

at least one of said side flaps having a slot which extends over /2 of the length of said side flap;

a back located on said bottom edge, said back when folded on said rectangular face covering said slot and glued to said side flaps on either side of said slot; and

a closure flap located on said top edge for closing said envelope when said envelope blank is folded and glued.

2. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein said side flaps are generally rectangular.

3. An envelope blank according to claim 2 wherein both side flaps have slots.

4. An envelope blank according to claim 3 wherein said back is generally rectangular and is adapted to be glued to each of said side flaps on glue lines which are on either side of said slots.

5. An envelope blank according to claim 4 wherein said back has a height when folded such that when glued to said side flaps is less than the height of said side flaps.

6. An envelope blank according to claim 5 wherein said face has a window.

7. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein both side flaps have slots.

8. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot has the dimension such that a credit card may be inserted through the slot.

9. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot extends within the upper half of the side flap.

10. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot extends for approximately l k inches. 

1. An envelope blank which comprises a rectangular face having two side edges a top edge, and a bottom edge; side flaps on said side edges of said rectangular face, at least one of said side flaps having a slot which extends over 1/2 of the length of said side flap; a back located on said bottom edge, said back when folded on said rectangular face covering said slot and glued to said side flaps on either side of said slot; and a closure flap located on said top edge for closing said envelope when said envelope blank is folded and glued.
 2. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein said side flaps are generally rectangular.
 3. An envelope blank according to claim 2 wherein both side flaps have slots.
 4. An envelope blank according to claim 3 wherein said back is generally rectangular and is adapted to be glued to each of said side flaps on glue lines which are on either side of said slots.
 5. An envelope blank according to claim 4 wherein said back has a height when folded such that when glued to said side flaps is less than the height of said side flaps.
 6. An envelope blank according to claim 5 wherein said face has a window.
 7. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein both side flaps have slots.
 8. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot has the dimension such that a credit card may be inserted through the slot.
 9. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot extends within the upper half of the side flap.
 10. An envelope blank according to claim 1 wherein the slot extends for approximately 1 1/2 inches. 